More Mosquitoes Test Positive For West Nile Virus In San Diego County

SAN DIEGO, CA — More mosquitoes have tested positive for West Nile virus in San Diego County, officials announced Monday.

Mosquitoes collected recently in routine monitoring in San Diego's City Heights and Skyline neighborhoods tested positive for the virus, according to county officials. To help reduce mosquito activity in the neighborhoods, the county's Vector Control program will be inspecting and treating mosquito breeding sites and conducting follow-up mosquito trapping in the areas.

The new detections are in addition to ongoing West Nile virus activity in Rolando and La Mesa that was previously reported in July. Although the county said mosquito numbers are down in those areas, the Vector Control program continues to routinely monitor mosquito activity, offer mosquito inspections to residents and act to reduce mosquito breeding.

There have been no reported human cases of West Nile virus in the county this year. However, the county said the virus remains a potentially deadly threat, because it can be transmitted to humans by several types of mosquitoes if they feed on an infected bird and then bite people.

Some people who become infected can experience symptoms such as headache, fever, nausea, fatigue, skin rash, or swollen glands. In rare cases, West Nile virus can cause serious illness, and in some cases, death.